Photobiomodulation Promotes Wound Healing in a Diabetic Cellular Model

Wound healing is a critical process that activates tissue repair after injury. In diabetes mellitus however, this process is deregulated and leads to the development of non-healing diabetic ulcers. Current treatments, which include glycaemic control and wound debridement are moderately effective as there is a challenge of recurrence. Therefore, improved therapeutic strategies are required for the treatment of diabetic ulcers. Photobiomodulation (PBM) at the red and near-infrared (NIR) wavelength range has been shown to improve the healing of cutaneous wounds by promoting cell proliferation and wound closure. The aim of this study was to determine if PBM at a wavelength of 660 nm and a fluence of 5 J/cm² can induce wound healing in a diabetic wounded (DW) cellular model. Human dermal fibroblasts (WS1) were continuously cultured in a high-glucose environment to induce a diabetic state. Prior to irradiation/PBM, a central scratch was created to create the “wound”. Cell migration and cell viability analyses were performed 24 and 48 h post-PBM. The results showed that cell migration was increased in irradiated diabetic wounded (DW) cells compared to the non-irradiated control cells. The Trypan blue and MTT data showed no statistical difference in cell viability and proliferation between irradiated and non-irradiated cells at 24 and 48 h post-PBM. The preliminary findings of this study indicate that PBM does not cause significant cell death and promotes “wound” closure in diabetic wounded cells in vitro.